Keynote speaker, Kathryn Akuahah Wheaton, Nipmuc

More than 1,000 people gathered at Newton North High School on Oct. 13 for the city’s fifth annual Indigenous Peoples Day Ceremonial Celebration, which has replaced Columbus Day since 2021.

The event, hosted by Indigenous Peoples Day Newton, was moved indoors because of rain but still featured live music, traditional dancing and a ceremonial fire that stayed lit throughout the day.

This year’s theme, “Honoring Our Drums — The Heartbeat of Mother Earth and Our Nations,” recognized the drum as a symbol of connection and endurance across Indigenous cultures. The celebration brought together tribal leaders, artists and residents from around New England, the Caribbean and Latin America, reflecting Newton’s growing role as one of Massachusetts’ most visible hosts of Indigenous Peoples Day events.

Tribes represented at the celebration included the Wampanoag of Gay Head (Aquinnah), Mashpee Wampanoag, Nipmuc Nation, Herring Pond Wampanoag, Narragansett Indian Tribe, Passamaquoddy Tribe, Taíno Nations, Huaylas Ancash Quechua, Nahuatl Mexica Nation, Mi’kmaq and Shinnecock Indian Nation.

Among the dignitaries were Chairwoman Cheryl Andrews-Maltais of the Aquinnah Wampanoag, Chairwoman Melissa Ferretti Harding of the Herring Pond Wampanoag, Chairman Brian Weeden of the Mashpee Wampanoag, Chief Dean Stanton of the Narragansett Indian Tribe and Chief Earl Mills Jr., who served as emcee.

Organizers said that despite the weather and a last-minute venue change, turnout was strong. They described the day as a celebration of living Indigenous cultures, centered on education, youth participation and intertribal unity.

The high school hosted a full afternoon of performances and presentations. The Host Drum High Rollerz opened the program with a social song, followed by the Tokalli Macehualli (Mexikah Prayer Dancers), who performed ceremonial movements rooted in Mexican Indigenous traditions.

Other highlights included Pauochau Waupi’s Drum and Dance Exhibition, the Taíno Drum Presentation featuring guest drummer Akapay Supay, the Pumawari Tusuy Dancers representing Quechua communities from Peru and the SanArte Cultura Bomba/Plena Presentation from Borikén (Puerto Rico).

Youth performers Annokquus Brown and Wunnup-Pash Brown joined the High Rollerz during a social dance, followed by Asa Peters’ Water Drum Presentation and a closing set by Sito 5 Lizard Music. Each performance underscored the event’s theme — the drum as both a musical and spiritual unifier.

“The drum carries the heart, the soul, the spirit of the people,” said Kathryn Akuahah Wheaton, a Nipmuc speaker who delivered the keynote address. “It connects us all through rhythm and meaning.”

In her remarks, Wheaton discussed the Nipmuc Nation’s efforts to establish a permanent cultural and educational site in Massachusetts — a project she said would help preserve language, art and traditional knowledge for future generations. Her message reflected a wider goal shared by participants: ensuring that Indigenous culture remains active and visible in everyday civic life.

Organizers said Newton’s annual celebration continues to grow as more residents, students and community groups take part. They emphasized that the day is not only about ceremony but also about education and inclusion, offering a space where Native and non-Native people can learn from one another.

According to 2020 U.S. Census data cited by the National Association of Social Workers Massachusetts chapter, more than 90,000 people in Massachusetts self-identify as Native American or Alaska Native, either alone or in combination with another ethnicity. The state’s Indigenous population includes descendants of the Massachusett, Wampanoag, Mahican, Nauset, Nipmuc, Pennacook and Pocomtuc tribes — communities whose contributions remain deeply tied to the region’s cultural and historical identity.

Newton was among the first cities in Massachusetts to formally recognize Indigenous Peoples Day, joining a national movement that acknowledges the histories and ongoing presence of Native peoples. Since 2021, the local celebration has evolved from a small gathering into a major cultural event drawing hundreds each year.

According to organizers, the group behind Indigenous Peoples Day Newton works year-round on programs that promote Indigenous representation in arts and education. While the winter months are quieter due to the lack of a permanent indoor space, several collaborations are already planned for 2026.

The Newton Free Library is preparing educational programs for early next year, the New Art Center plans to host a master beader workshop and an intertribal youth ski trip is scheduled for February. By late spring, organizers expect to partner with the Newton Conservators on an outdoor event focusing on environmental and cultural education.

Organizers said these initiatives are part of their broader effort to keep the momentum of Indigenous Peoples Day going beyond October. Each project, they noted, aims to strengthen community ties while highlighting Indigenous voices across Massachusetts.

As the celebration concluded and the sound of drums faded, attendees lingered by the glowing ceremonial fire — a reminder, organizers said, that Indigenous traditions remain not just historical but living, continuing to grow with each passing year.